A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Aili since 1901
Babies named Aili per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2009, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Aili's real moment was 1909.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 68 |
| 1910s | 220 |
| 1920s | 87 |
| 1930s | 12 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 11 |
| 1970s | 12 |
| 1980s | 44 |
| 1990s | 95 |
| 2000s | 298 |
| 2010s | 343 |
| 2020s | 186 |
Meaning & origin
Aili is a Finnish feminine name that has seen modest use in the United States since the early 1900s. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1901, and its peak year came in 1909, when it ranked highest in usage. After a long period of decline, the name has been rising again since 1985, reflecting a broader revival of vintage European names. In the most recent year with data, 2025, Aili ranked 4,067th nationally, with approximately 1 in every 45,922 newborn girls receiving the name. Its use is most concentrated in Washington and California, two states with significant populations of Scandinavian heritage. The name's etymology is debated, but it likely stems from Finnish forms of the Old Norse Helga, meaning "holy" or "blessed."
Aili is a Finnish feminine name. It may have originated as a variant of Aila, itself a Finnish form of Helga, derived from Old Norse heilagr meaning "holy" or "blessed." Alternatively, it might be a short form of names beginning with Ail- or a variant of the Scandinavian name Eila. The name has been used in Finland since the late 19th century.
Where Aili is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Aila
Sibling names for Aili
Names that share Aili's style, for a brother or sister.
